We’ve all heard the term “force of nature.” The thing is, each of us is a force of nature – but rarely do we truly hear the lessons that nature has for us, or boldly claim them out in our worlds. During this interactive and thought-provoking session, we’ll explore the ways we can tune in, open up, and integrate the many lessons nature has for us. We’ll discover ways we can lean into nature to become more confident, to find our voices, and to more powerfully step into our leadership and our joy. We’ll explore the power of the divine feminine, of mother earth, the moon, and within ourselves. And we’ll examine lessons from ancient wisdom and how we can apply it to our modern world and everyday lives.

This session is part of the 2018 BRAVA THRIVE CONFERENCE, a full-day event. Learn more and register for the conference here.

We live in a world of more intake than ever before. At any given moment, it seems that there are is an infinite list of things competing for our attention: an unanswered email, an incoming text, a task we've been meaning to get to for the last week, and our team member who has a question. It can make us feel like we're playing Whack-a-Mole: trying to keep our heads above water while making progress on our ongoing to-do lists. When this is our reality, it is almost impossible to effectively lead ourselves—let alone other people. At the end of the day, leadership happens in the moments, and in order to lead effectively, we need to be present in those moments. Explore how to increase overall leadership effectiveness by tuning in, clearing out distractions, and creating meaningful connections with the people around us.

What you'll gain:

Understand what "conscious leadership" means and how it looks in everyday life

Specific practices, structures, and routines that will support you leading in a more conscious and compelling way

Tools and approaches to create a positive impact with other people and in your environment

Strategies for successfully leading with challenging people and in difficult situations

Simply put, leadership matters. Institutions that systematically build the leadership capacity of their teams outperform those who don’t. Creating time for leadership takes effort – there are people to manage, reports to write, meetings to attend, deadlines to meet, and of course making time for a personal life. This interactive, thought-provoking workshop is designed for managers and leaders who want to increase their positive impact in a meaningful way.

You will explore and learn:

Your leadership values

Your individual motivators

Your leadership purpose statement

The role of presence and mindfulness in influential and impactful leadership

Innovation is a word we hear often, but what does it really mean to be an Innovative Leader? Is it possible to be innovative in environments that have historically embraced stability and order over risk, change, and uncertainty? This course will encourage you to build a new mindset for approaching challenges in our organizations. Learn to identify possibilities and create the conditions in your work teams that make innovation a way of being, versus a one-time initiative. During this interactive session, we will explore:

What it means to be an Innovative Leader – and ways to stretch your skills and capacity in this area

Innovation as a way of being, versus an initiative or a program

Innovative approaches to problem-solving

Intrapreneurship: bringing an entrepreneurial mindset and perspective to your team and organization

In the fast-paced, ever-changing reality of today, operating as a “predict and plan” leader is no longer enough. While predictions and plans have a place in leadership, the most effective leaders are able to rapidly and accurately sense what is happening around them, and respond accordingly.

During this half-day course, we will explore:

Self-awareness as the foundation to agile leadership.

The skills of sensing and noticing.

How to confidently and effectively lead through times of change and uncertainty.

Innovation is a word we hear often, but what does it really mean to be an Innovative Leader? Is it possible to be innovative in environments that have historically embraced stability and order over risk, change, and uncertainty? This course will encourage you to build a new mindset for approaching challenges in our organizations. Learn to identify possibilities and create the conditions in your work teams that make innovation a way of being, versus a one-time initiative. During this interactive session, we will explore:

What it means to be an Innovative Leader – and ways to stretch your skills and capacity in this area

Innovation as a way of being, versus an initiative or a program

Innovative approaches to problem-solving

Intrapreneurship: bringing an entrepreneurial mindset and perspective to your team and organization

Think of Achieving Alchemy as the coolest professional development event you’ll ever attend. No stale power points or naps in your chairs here.

Join me for this highly experiential, interactive, event co-led with Jessica Edwards of Jessica Edwards Coaching. It will include a healthy mix of deep exploration and powerful action, infused with sisterhood, community, and connection.

The experience will include conversation, community, experiential activities, dialogue, and inquiry to empower you to:

· UNEARTH: who you are at your core

· UNCOVER: what gets in the way

· CREATE: a compelling future vision for where you want to go

· POLISH: your actions, agreements, and commitments to make it happen

Who It's For:

Achieving Alchemy is for high-performing, heart-centered female leaders who want to rise to the most inspired and powerful versions of themselves.

Achieving Alchemy is for women who crave an authentic community of other women... a community that values truth and vulnerability along with general badassery.

Achieving Alchemy is for women who crave deep exploration and fearless action.

Achieving Alchemy is for women ready to shine, and ready to rise.

What You’ll Leave With:

In addition to a tribe of kick-ass boss ladies you’ll leave this experience with:

· Clarity on your values, why they matter, and what they look like in action

· Awareness of your strengths, superpowers, and unique genius

· Your unique essence and how you express it in the world

· A deeper understanding of your fears and saboteurs, and concrete ways to work with them

· A compelling future vision of where you want to go and what you deeply desire

· Ways to keep your alchemy, as well as the learning from the event, alive in everyday life

· A snapshot of your unique alchemy

· An interactive Achieving Alchemy workbook

· Tools and resources to share your learning with your colleagues and teammates following the experience

Registration and more details are available on the Achieving Alchemy website here. We look forward to seeing you in Chicago for our second offering of Achieving Alchemy on February 2nd.

"This is more than a leadership or professional growth course. This is a road to self discovery and learning how to be the best version of yourself - which will benefit you, your colleagues, and everyone you interact with." - Carolyn, Chicago IL

Integrity. It’s a concept that most of us can get behind pretty easily, and a concept that most of us try to uphold. But what does integrity look like in real-time? When we are asked to communicate a decision that we completely disagree with? When we overhear gossip in the breakroom that we do completely agree with? Or when we feel our personal values may be in conflict with the values of our leader, our team, or our organization?

During this interactive and thought-provoking session, we’ll nurture honesty as we explore the concept of integrity in real-time; examine situations when it can feel challenging and confusing to know whether we are in alignment with our integrity; and uncover what we can do moving forward.

The session will include discussion, storytelling, application, and actionable strategies to apply after the session.

Say less, but have greater positive impact. Navigate challenging situations and conversations with confidence. Know what to say even at those awkward networking events when you don’t know anyone.

These types of open and honest conversations require tools: to listen effectively, to ask genuine questions, and to build trust with the people you interact with.

Build your tool kit with this invitation toExplore practical and actionable ways to use coaching-based skills in both life and work.

I'm happy to be partnering with UW Colleges and UW Extension to offer this brand-new, virtual mini-series on coaching-based skills for life and leadership.

November 15 9:30-11:00 a.m.

* Coaching-Based Skills for Life / 90 min. $99

Objectives:

• Ways to listen to what is being said (and what isn’t)• How to ask better questions to get better answers• Tools to use in awkward situations when you don’t know what to say• Ways to apply coaching-based strategies to create deeper relationships, more trust, and more open dialogue

November 28 9:30-11:00 a.m.

* Coaching-Based Skills for Leadership

and Performance Management / 90 min. $99

Objectives:

• Leading and managing with less effort but more impact• Giving and receiving feedback in a way that is both effective and compassionate• Delivering difficult news and having challenging conversations in the workplace• Ways to incorporate a coach approach to management• Coaching-based structures for team member 1:1 meetings

Kick off the month of November with some free laser life coaching sessions. These events provide an awesome opportunity to "test out" coaching in a way that is both high-impact and low-risk.

You come with a topic that you'd like to coach on; we spend 15 minutes together digging in and co-creating some magic, and you leave with new insight, a plan, and a fresh perspective.

I'll be joined by two other fabulous coaches for this event. As always, it is free and open to the public. These events typically do fill, so watch for more information and registration details here, so that you can reserve your spot early.

I'll be joining the awesome women of Ladies Rock Camp on Friday afternoon, for a couple of interactive, upbeat sessions to kick off the weekend. Ladies Rock Camp is an opportunity to come together and be creative with other women - and fulfill any dreams you've ever had about being in a band....with no musical background required. Learn more about the event here!

Our mornings become our days, and our days become our lives. The way we start our day matters. During this interactive event, we'll explore the power of intentional mornings, and we'll even test out a few techniques that you can apply starting the very next day. You'll leave feeling empowered to create more spaciousness, ease, and joy throughout your days - by starting with your mornings.

This event is part of DreamBank's Dream Big series. As always, these events are free and open to the public but often do fill, so advanced registration is highly encouraged. Registration is currently open on DreamBank's website here.

Save the date for this chic Minneapolis Women's event, co-led with Megan Betterman. We'll weave movement, mindfulness, and mission for an interactive, half day workshop at the beautiful Yellow Barn in Mendota Heights, Minnesota.

Find focus for next steps in your career and personal life, determine your personal leadership style and strengths, gain confidence, and tap into your influence as a woman and a leader. We’ll start the day with movement and centering- this is a professional workshop where yoga pants are encouraged! The experience will include a nourishing and largely organic brunch along with local coffee and tea.

Interested in joining us? Registration is now open! Early bird pricing goes through the end of August.

Simply put, leadership matters. Institutions that systematically build the leadership capacity of their teams outperform those who don’t. Creating time for leadership takes effort – there are people to manage, reports to write, meetings to attend, deadlines to meet, and of course making time for a personal life. This interactive, thought-provoking workshop is designed for managers and leaders who want to increase their positive impact in a meaningful way.

You will explore and learn:

Your leadership values

Your individual motivators

Your leadership purpose statement

The role of presence and mindfulness in influential and impactful leadership

I'm grateful to join the Culture Community team's June meeting to lead an interactive exploration of habits, accountability, and productivity. During this session, you'll learn about your natural tendencies and how you can use what you learn to become more productive and happier in your everyday life.

About Culture Community:

Culture Community is a non-profit organization built to bring enthusiasts together, in-person and electronically, to foster culture as a focal point of every organization, regardless of industry, size, or stage. Building an intentional culture is as much about what you do as what you don’t do. We meet on the second Thursday of every month to share knowledge on different cultural ideas, so organizations can be deliberate and conscious in their actions.

I'm looking forward to being part of the UW Rethinking Leadership Conference once again this year. I had the chance to participate last year, as well, and it was a fantastic event! Many great speakers, advanced topics, and rich discussion among participants.

This year, I'll be talking about Loyalty; session details and registration information is below. The conference runs from 8:30 am - 4:15 pm.

We often hear about loyalty as the answer to many of the challenges we face in our organizations related to retention, engagement, and creating healthy cultures and strong teams. But is loyalty as we have traditionally thought of it really enough, especially in today’s working environment, where U.S. workers spend an average of 4.2 years with their current employers? During this interactive, collaborative, and thought-provoking session, we will explore this question together, along with tools and strategies to raise the bar for our teams and our organizations.

Learning objectives:

Examine the benefits of loyalty and how to cultivate it within our teams and organizations.

Identify the limitations of loyalty and how it can actually prevent us from creating a culture of trust and transparency.

Uncover specific, actionable ways to increase trust, improve communication, and increase our results by taking the conversation a step further than loyalty.

This 4-hour experience is for entrepreneurs and business owners who want to take their businesses to the next level. You bring real, concrete challenges and opportunities that you're working on in your business. We work through them real-time, peeling back the layers of what's getting in the way and co-creating a plan for authentic action and meaningful results.

This will be a small and intimate group, in order to maintain a high level of personalized attention and rich group dialogue. You will get many of the benefits of 1:1 coaching, with added perspective and insight from other entrepreneurial peers.

You will leave with:

New Insight and Tactical Tools for Growing Your Business in a Way that Feels Authentic and Alive

You sometimes feel as though your calendar is your master (and not always a kind one).

You get a lot done, but it doesn’t always feel like you’re getting the right things done.

You feel like you’re often better at executing other people’s priorities than you are at executing your own.

You frequently feel as though you’re grinding, pushing, working hard, and hustling - and you’re tired.

If any of these things sound familiar, you are not alone. In leading leadership and human development courses across the country, I’ve found that these feelings are almost universal - across roles, industries, and positions. From CEOs, to entrepreneurs, to construction superintendents, to project managers - I’ve heard similar words of despair when we touch on the topic of calendars, emails, time, and energy.

For this reason, I’ve created a brand new 6-session, live virtual course, where together we’ll create more time, energy, and flow for the things that matter most. After the course, by applying the principles we explore, you’ll:

Have clarity on your values and priorities

Be empowered to create more time, ease, and spaciousness throughout your days

Spend less time in your inbox while increasing your responsiveness

Be able to effectively say No in order to say Yes to the things that align with your values

Have more energy and vitality

Here’s how, and what we’ll cover:

Course #1: Getting Clear (Wednesday May 31 from 12:00-1:30 Central)

The first step in becoming more impactful is ensuring we are focusing on the right things. Too often, we get swept up in the seduction of productivity, only to realize we are incredibly efficient at getting the wrong things done. During this foundational course, you’ll:

Explore the things that matter most

Identify your core values

Gain clarity on your key priorities

Tune into your compelling “why”

Learn ways to put your values, priorities, and compelling “why” at the center of your days and your weeks

Leave with tactical tools for prioritizing the things that matter most, particularly amidst the whirlwind of everyday work and life

Many of us feel as though we are held hostage by our calendars - tiny boxes, in multiple colors, acting as the masters of our lives, often against our will. During this course, we’ll regain control over our calendars so that it no longer rules our every move, and instead supports us in creating more time and energy for the things that matter most. You’ll:

Learn how to manage your calendar, instead of it managing you

Uncover strategies to create more time and space in your days and your weeks

Learn how to schedule your days and weeks in a way that maximizes productivity and efficiency

Explore how to manage energy in addition to managing time

Leave with an action plan which will leave you with more ease, a feeling of more time and increased energy, and less stress

In teaching leadership and personal development courses throughout the country, there is a shared groan I hear in the room whenever I bring up the topic of email. “Catching up on email” is a task that seems to rule our days, keeps us at the office late at night, and lurks in the back of our head when we wake up at 2 am. During this course we will:

Challenge the beliefs that keep us chained to our inboxes

Redefine our relationship with email

Learn how to spend less time and energy in our inboxes, while becoming more responsive and productive

Uncover strategies that make inbox management easier, smoother, and more efficient

Create a personalized action plan to create Email Zen following the course

Course #4: Creating a Resonant Yes through the Power of No (Tuesday June 13 from 12:00-1:30 Central)

When we read about successful people throughout history - from great thinkers to entrepreneurs to top CEOs, most of them share one thing in common: they are incredibly skilled at saying “no.” Saying “no” is critical for having the type of impact we want to have in the world and serving in a greater way. During this course we will:

Learn how to do more, by doing less

Discover the downfall of “more is better” and understand the power of “less but better”

We hear a lot about the idea of “self-care.” But too often, “self-care” can be another thing on the calendar and even something that causes additional stress on our bodies. During this course, we will set aside some of the common assumptions about how self-care should look and dig deeper in order to:

Understand the power of managing energy, in addition to managing time

Discover the ways that we can boost our energy in small but impactful ways throughout our days

Create more energy for the things that matter most

Remove the feeling of “should” and “obligation” that we often tie to self-care

Create a greater positive impact in the world by nourishing our minds, bodies, and emotions

Practice mindfulness and gratitude for increased impact and joy

Course #6: Bringing It All Together (Friday June 23 from 12:00-1:30 Central)

During this final course, we will review everything we’ve learned and create a personalized action plan for increased impact and increased joy. We will:

Review the key themes and take-aways from the first 5 courses

Identify your personal game-changers and action items

Create a personalized action plan

Solidify your top 3-5 Most Important Things

Determine an action and accountability plan

Dates and Details

The 6 courses will be held virtually and live, via Zoom video conferencing. Each session will be 90 minutes - with a mix of content and time for discussion, sharing, and questions. Participants may join by computer or by phone.

Each session will be recorded and made available to participants following the course.

Live Course Dates and Times (all in Central Time)

Wednesday May 31

Friday June 2

Wednesday June 7

Tuesday June 13

Thursday June 15

Friday June 23

After registering, you'll receive a link to join the sessions via Zoom. After the courses, you'll receive links to watch the recordings.

Investment:

Individual Registration: $97

Team/Company Registration: $397

Includes:

Live courses

Unlimited access to course recordings

Course handouts, e-guide, and resource list

Team tickets include unlimited access to all of the above, for all team members.

As entrepreneurs and creatives, it can be easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of 'doing' - creating content, taking photos, posting on social media, working hard.

While these are all great things that contribute to the success of our business, we often find that we create even more success and greater impact when we slow down and step back regularly, to reflect on who we are, what matters most, and how we can work in the most efficient and effective way.

I'm exciting to be joining Rising Tide Society's Tuesdays Together Madison meet-up on April 11th to explore what it looks like to create the type of impact we want to create by tuning into who we are, what we value, and our unique zone of genius.

We'll explore small but impactful things we can do each day and each week to boost both our happiness, and our results.

Join us at DreamBank for some free laser coaching on March 29th between 11:30 - 1:00. As always, these sessions are free - and are great opportunities to work through an obstacle, consider a big decision, or explore a new perspective.

Women’s leadership matters - a lot. Despite the significant progress we’ve made as women over the years, there remains a gap when it comes to women and leadership. While women make up 45 percent of the overall S&P 500 labor force and 37 percent of first or mid-level officials and managers in those companies, they are only 25 percent of executive- and senior-level officials and managers, hold only 19 percent of board seats, and are only 4.6 percent of CEOs.

We have a powerful opportunity as women to continue to shift this dynamic and change these statistics. This event is about stepping back from the day-to-day in order to step into who we are as women and as leaders, in the company of other incredible women.

Think of this event as part professional development, part personal development, part nourishing and restorative retreat, and part gathering of incredible and inspiring women. Together, we will explore what it means to lead as powerfully as possible as women, and how we can tune into who we are as leaders to increase the impact we have with our teams, with our families, and out in the world. It will be a blend of exploration, reflection, learning, conversation, and tactical tools we can apply after the event.

Throughout the day, we will eat delicious and nourishing food, take breaks to move our bodies and to tap into our creativity, and spend the day in a beautiful and inspiring space. Your ticket includes all materials, meals and refreshments, and a personalized leadership action plan to use following the event. All you need to bring is yourself.

This is not a typical professional development event. It is for women who want more for their leadership and their worlds - and are willing to play all-out to co-create an incredible experience together. The event will be capped at 30 women in order to maintain deep connection and conversations throughout the day.

Creating actions, intentions, routines, and structures to support us in implementing values-based leadership in work and life

Commitments and closing

Optional Crafty Hour

If your organization would like to sponsor part but not all of your ticket, please use the Donation option on the Tickets page and drop me a note. Looking forward to seeing some of you for this gathering of incredible women. Feel free to reach out with any questions you have: sarah@zingcollaborative.com.

It can be tempting to look around at what others are doing and to then attempt to re-create it: an outfit idea from Pinterest, a styled shelf we saw on Instagram, a purchase made by a friend, or someone else's business that we view as successful. The real magic, however, happens when we stop looking around at what others are doing and spend our time and energy looking deep within.

This event is free. Registration is highly encouraged to reserve your place. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Join us for a day of inspiration, transformation, and learning. During this one-day, virtual event, you'll have the opportunity to join thought-leaders, game changers, and top performers in a variety of fields - life and leadership coaching, triathlon, community building, media, entrepreneurship - to explore what it looks like to create inspired impact in the world in a way that feels authentic and alive.

This will not be a day of pre-recorded webinars. All sessions will be live, interactive, and hosted via video chat - so you will have the opportunity to connect face-to-face with leaders and participants from around the world.

Join us for one session or for the full day. Gather your team to tune in from a conference room for a day-long professional development event that doesn't require any travel or hotel fees. Or, come and go to sessions throughout the day that most speak to you, or as your schedule allows.

The Inspired Impact Team is made up of thought leaders and game changers from various industries - coaching, triathlon, media, community building, podcasting, and entrepreneurship.

Your inspired impact team includes:

Sarah Young - Founder of The Inspired Impact Virtual Summit and Zing Collaborative

According to the ATW Iowa Training Trends Survey, “leadership training for emerging leaders” has been a top need for organizations in Iowa in 2011, 2012, and 2013. But what does it mean to truly engage, equip, and empower your next generation of leaders in a way that creates meaningful, lasting positive change? During this session, we will explore:

Why emerging leaders are crucial for an organization’s long-term success

The skill of “potential-spotting” and how to use it

Engagement strategies for top performers and emerging leaders

How to strengthen relationships and connections with top performers and emerging leaders

Boost your confidence and break through obstacles to pursue your dream. I, along with 2 other experienced, certified life coaches, will provide free 15-20 minute "laser" sessions to help you gain clarity or see things from a new perspective. Bring a topic or idea you’d like to discuss or an area where you feel stuck or want to make a change, and step into 15 minutes of focused attention just for you. It’s a powerful way to start your journey and bring your dream to life!

This event is free and the 1:1 coaching sessions are also free, but you'll want to sign up early to reserve your spot.

Do you ever feel like you're two different people, operating in two different ways -- one at work, and one at home...one with your family, and one with your friends...or perhaps, one on social media and one in "real life?" As women, we wear many hats and have many roles. Sometimes, it can be difficult to bring all of who we are to all of these different roles -- especially when we feel like if we do, we may be judged, misunderstood, or even disliked. The truth is, being completely authentic all of the time is vulnerable. It can be risky. And it's key for a joyful and fulfilling life. During this high-energy, interactive, and thought provoking session, we will:

Explore what it means to operate from a place of authenticity in all parts of our lives.

Examine the ways in which this can be challenging and take a close look at the things that get in the way.

Gain specific and actionable tools to apply back out into the world -- at work, at home, with loved ones, and even online.

Our ability to have the impact we desire depends largely on our ability to manage the moments: the emails, tasks, roles, and responsibilities we manage on a daily basis. During this interactive workshop, we will explore how managing our energy, time, and technology allows us to be more productive and happier along the way.

Participants will learn:

How managing energy, rather than just managing time, increases effectiveness and fulfillment

Ways to prioritize the "important" over the "urgent," even in a high-intake world of emails, phone calls, reminders, alarms, text messages, and an unlimited list of things to do

How to say "no" in order to say "yes" to the things that matter

How to use technology in a way that supports rather than stifles us

The role of effective decision making and effective delegation

Habits, routines, and structures that help us get more done, reduce the chaos, and create more focus

Attending the event even though we don’t want to. Saying “sure, I can help!” even though it puts us behind on our own work. Overcommitting to the point that we are tired, stressed out, and edgy. Saying “yes” because we think saying “no” will be rude. Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. As women, we often find ourselves saying “yes” to try to be nice, to avoid hurting someone’s feelings, or to be helpful.

However, when we do, we’re often saying “no” to ourselves. During this interactive, high-energy, and thought-provoking experience we will:

• Explore the “myths of saying yes”

• Understand the immediate and long term impacts of saying “yes” when we really want to say “no”

• Discover what it really means to say “no”

• Reflect on the compelling vision of a resonant “yes” life

• Learn specific tools and approaches to use in everyday life and in challenging situations